Latest news with #EvansvilleRescueMission
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Please stop': Trash dumping and theft on the rise at Evansville Rescue Mission
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – If you ask any thrift store shopper, most will tell you 'one person's trash is another person's treasure'. But in the last several weeks outside of the Evansville Rescue Mission Thrift Store, the treasures have been stolen while the trash is left behind. 'I think the only thing we would say is, 'please stop'.' That is the plea from Eddie Rapp with the Evansville Rescue Mission after what he calls a 'drastic' increase in reports of individuals dumping large amounts of trash where donations are collected. 'Not only is trash being dumped,' explains Rapp, 'they're actually going through and picking items they want for themselves and leaving. And what's interesting is it occurs at 2 in the morning, 3 in the morning, 10 o'clock at night, so there's no one here where we can assist them to really help with the donations, so we know the intent isn't to be a positive donor for the community.' EPD calls Bitcoin scams a 'growing trend' Some of the incidents have been captured by the store's surveillance camera. Rapp says the increase over the past two months forced the Rescue Mission to coordinate with Evansville Police, placing a neighborhood surveillance vehicle outside of the donation drop-off. 'It's just gotten to the point where it literally encompasses our entire donation facility, the outside platform, our donation bins,' says Rapp. 'Yeah, it's visually discerning, for sure.' Not just visually discerning, but costly, too. 'I think what probably isn't realized is that costs us a lot of money. It fills up dumpsters that we have to have removed, it's our resources, and ultimately it's exhausting to our staff to have to deal with it on a daily basis,' says Rapp. 'It's kind of a double loss: not only are you not getting the donation to have the impact they desired in the first place, but you're also costing money that's taking away funds that could be used to help somebody.' The Rescue Mission is asking residents to only drop off donations during operating hours of 8 am to 6 pm, and to not leave items next to their bins. Evansville Police say there are no updates on the search for these individuals. 'Please stop': Trash dumping and theft on the rise at Evansville Rescue Mission Teen Outback exploring historical designation to save facility New Jasper swimming pool ready for holiday weekend Property owners rally before INDOT's restraining order hearing Daughter of missing Boonville woman makes Mother's Day plea Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana bill could 'criminalize homelessness'
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — A proposed law in Indiana is facing opposition in Evansville, despite passing with majority support. Thousands of people in the country face homelessness, but for those in Evansville, they say this bill in particular with Amendment 197 is not the solution. Evansville Rescue Mission CEO Tracy Gorman says the original bill was abandoned at one point since it did not gain enough support the way it was written. He says a similar bill moved forward without debate. 'Nobody wants homelessness encampments,' says Gorman. They're not safe. They're unsanitary. But this is not the way to go about it. There is a better way to accomplish this without sticking some amendment on at the last minute.' The Evansville Rescue Mission helps those experiencing homelessness by providing life-long resources and temporary housing to help people get back on their feet by hopefully equipping each person with the tools necessary to not be homeless again. Gorman says the job is up to the leaders in Indianapolis to find a better solution for all. 'People need to come back to the table, come up with a really good solution, a good bill, debate it, let people talk about it,' says Gorman. 'Then come back next session and have something what we can all get behind and support because we want to support legislation that's going to help the homeless population.' Former city council member and current State Representative Alex Burton spoke in opposition to the bill, wanting to a summer study to be conducted before passing the legislation into law. The final vote in the House was 52-40 in favor of the bill and it has already passed the Senate. The bill will take effect in July 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Evansville Rescue Mission CEO says bill would criminalize homelessness
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Evansville Rescue Mission CEO Tracy Gorman is speaking out against Indiana Senate Bill 197. Officials with the organization say this would criminalize homelessness. 'While your Evansville Rescue Mission is an apolitical organization, we will not hesitate to speak out when an issue is of extreme importance to the individuals we serve. After all, they're why we're here! Currently, there is a major issue that is potentially facing homeless people in Indiana, and I ask our colleagues and friends to contact your Senate Representatives immediately and urge them to vote against the amendment that was added to Senate Bill 197. This legislation is unwise, unnecessary and unwarranted, especially in its current form. More discussion and conversations are needed regarding this issue, and hurrying through an ill-advised amendment like this is not the answer. Time is of the essence, so please encourage your state legislators to either drop the amendment, or vote against the bill! Homeless individuals already have enough to worry about. They sure don't need this!' CEO of Evansville Rescue Mission Tracy Gorman Senate Bill 197 makes it a Class C misdemeanor for a person to use public property of the state or a political subdivision for purposes of sleeping or camping, subject to certain exceptions and conditions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Emergency shelters for February 18-19, 2025
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Some people might need to seek refuge in some emergency shelters on Tuesday night. Governor Beshear called on residents of the state of Kentucky to take action to stay warm as snow and below-zero wind chills are expected across much of the state this week. 'If you can't turn your heat on by this afternoon, you need to call a family member or friend and go stay with them. If that option isn't available, please go to an emergency shelter,' said Gov. Beshear. 'The temperatures are dropping dangerously low, and we need to do everything possible to keep our neighbors safe.' Gov. Beshear signs executive order for emergency 30-day prescription refills Vanderburgh County These are the places people can go on Tuesday night: Open under White Flag conditions United Caring Shelters Evansville Rescue Mission Open during operating hours CK Newsome Central Library Officials say there are not, at this point, plans to open additional emergency shelters. Henderson County These are the places people can go on Tuesday night: Henderson County Public Library The Harbor House of Men Webster County These are the places people can go on Tuesday night: Providence Branch Library Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
